My Shiny New Wall Of Gear
So, it has happened. Long threatened, oft mused about, but never actually done - till now, that is.
Today, something wonderful and amazing happened. with the help of the ever-splendid Liz. In a single day, we took apart my music gear in its entirety, cleaned it down, re-wired it, built a mixer support and then put it all back together again. I still can't believe it has happen.
As if I need to prove that we really did it, here is a picture of the middle part of the operation, when just about everything had gone. At this point, I really couldn't believe that it would all be sorted in a day.
Suffice it to say that it was all re-adjusted, cabled, re-positioned and wired-up for power, MIDI and sound. I even had to get the old soldering out and make some of the cables. Worse than that, I indulged in a little entry-level DIY to sort out the need for a support for the mixer in its new position. It all feels very surreal.
Before anyone asks - yes, the plugs underneath the desk were all organised and rearranged. I know it still looks a mess. Power plugs always look a mess. Deal with it.
The really important thing is what this means to me. A great many things work again that have not worked for a while. Once more, I understand the way things are cabled, and how everything fits together. More than that, my gear is arranged now, so as to make it more accessible for me, and thus more creatively useful.
With the changes in the balance of work in this room, and the emphasis now being much toward music, it is truly pleasing to have everything sorted out, and long overdue. I'm not really conveying the emotion adequately. It's like I got my studio back again - better than ever. I also feel a great deal of gratitude to Liz for helping me so willingly and with such good humour.
The whole set-up is now tested and re-set to allow for the changes. Everything works. It is now past 5am.
That's quite a day.
Indeed! - are you two available for external hire? I could do with a good de-clutter too :-)
Posted by: Cal | April 06, 2005 at 09:01 AM
Oh lovely. You should both feel very proud of yourselves. I had a fraction of Andy's equipment in my studio a few years ago, and the mere thought of rearranging anything filled me with dread, and I too put up with things not working rather than deal with electrical spaghetti on my hands and knees. I can imagine what it must be like, so well done and I hope that the inspiration this has given you helps you to avoid churning out uninspired cliched musical garbage like the stuff I only ever produced.
Posted by: Jason Thompson | April 06, 2005 at 11:37 AM
5AM!!! I ducked out at about 10pm, when most things seemed to be working.
You say all in a day ... well, yes within a 24 hour period that would be acurate, but, what a day! Well done for lasting the course and getting it all really working and everything.
Posted by: Liz | April 06, 2005 at 01:21 PM
By the way ... it was a pleasure. :-)
Posted by: Liz | April 06, 2005 at 01:22 PM
It looks absolutely spiffing. (Slaps a gold star on Liz's forehead then continues to gaze in awe at the 'wall')
Posted by: Jac | April 06, 2005 at 08:16 PM
it's not all that shiny though..... well not from that picture... and I don't believe it is new either.... great work... bad description!! ;)
Posted by: Louise | April 07, 2005 at 01:31 PM
Cal - Sure, my rates are really high, and I didn't actually do anything, it was mostly Liz. That said - sure - please contact my agent.
Jac - I know it's ugly, but to me it's beautiful.
Louise - It's shiny and new to me. Having everything re-wired and sorted out is like having it all brand new - and, as everyone knows, anything new is, by definition, shiny.
Gerald - It's so hard to know what to say to you.
Posted by: AndyC | April 07, 2005 at 02:35 PM
Like new
Posted by: tom | April 08, 2005 at 01:27 AM